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Julia sat on the edge of the bed and quickly unlocked her phone Glancing down she thu when she saw the name She clicked on it

"But they brushed it off You know? Everyone thought she was dead," he continued "Except ers froze when she saw Madeline had pulled her left hand out of her pocket Julia’s lips parted as the woman offered her hand to Daniel Holy crap If she wasn’t sitting, she’d have fallen down

Daniel curled his palm around Madeline’s and his s?" he asked, voice hoarse

Madeline stared at her cousin, but her lips didn’t move There was no verbal response, but Daniel squeezed his eyes shut nonetheless

Julia had no idea as happening, but she fired the quick text to Lucian and then held on tight to the phone as she rose,so she was close to Madeline in casewell, in case anything happened

"Shejust started painting today," Julia said, feeling like she had to say soainst his forehead "Madeline loved to paint Could sit for days and do it if you left her alone" He lowered their hands "Damn It’s a relief to see you"

Julia felt the phone vibrate in her hand and resisted the urge to check it Lucian was calling

"You’re going to be okay," he said, and it sounded like he was telling hi his hands into the pockets of his shorts He glanced at Julia "Has she said anything about where she’s been?"

Julia shook her head

He gazed down at Madeline, as now back to staring at her painting "I know you’ve texted one of them" Daniel let out a hoarse chuckle

Her heart squeezed No point in lying "I did It’s my job"

"I understand," he said alet out of here before they kick my ass out of here"

Julia’s eyes widened

"You look surprised? You shouldn’t be Those brothers" He trailed off with another rough laugh "I just wanted to see if it was possible That Madeline was here That’s all" He bit down on his lip, re her of Lucian "Can I leave youhappens? You could let reed, taking his nu it

"Thank you," he said, nodding in her direction before he started toward the door "I really a you Truly"

She forced a sain "It’s okay"

"I’ll see h the door, then stopped, looking back at Madeline She’d picked up the brush oncethe canvas "Look, I feel like I need to say this to you"

"What?" she asked

"Be careful with theaze uys, okay? You don’t know erous and they shouldn’t be trusted Madeline knew that, and look at what happened to her"

Chapter 15

As Lucian stood on the porch outside of Maddie’s room, he almost felt like he’d stepped into an alternate universe soet this straight" His hands were resting on the railing, his back slightly bowed "Madeline actually responded to the whole painting thing She’s actually in there painting right now I just saw that with my oo eyes I have no idea what in the hell she’s painting, but she is?" Pausing, he looked over at Julia "Right?"